How to Properly Tape a Hockey Stick

Taping a hockey stick protects the stick from flying pucks, the hard surface of the ice and moisture. Taping the grip of the hockey stick can prevent you from losing control of the stick while passing or shooting the puck. Adding tape to the blade of a hockey stick helps you keep control of the puck, accept passes more smoothly and transition the puck either to a waiting teammate or passed the goalie and into the back of the net.

Things You'll Need

  • Hockey tape
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Instructions

  1. Hockey Stick Grip

    • 1

      Determine how far down the hockey stick grip you wish to tape. Some players tape a small portion at the top of the stick in order to avoid the stick slipping out of the shooter's weak hand. Others tape to the midway point (or even further) down the grip of the stick.

    • 2

      Pull one long strip of hockey tape. The length is determined by how far down the grip of the stick you're taping. For example, those taping 6 inches of hockey stick need 6 inches of hockey tape. Do not tear the tape.

    • 3

      Hold the top of the piece of tape, and spin the bottom (the roll) of the tape. Doing so tangles the piece of tape so that it looks stringy, like a rope. Continue spinning until the tape is thin and tight. Make sure that tape does not break.

    • 4

      Place the end of the piece of tape directly beneath the knob of the stick grip (the exact location is not important. Then, begin wrapping the tape down the stick diagonally, leaving roughly one-quarter inch spaces between each string of tape. Continue doing this until you run out of tape. This gives the hockey stick a strong grip. Do not tear the tape when finished.

    • 5

      Pull another long, straight piece of hockey tape. Place the piece of tape over the last portion of tape that was wrapped around the hockey stick (at the end of step 4). Wrap the tape back up the stick, this time overlapping the tape about every half inch. Continue doing this until you reach the knob of the stick. Cut the tape when finished.

    • 6

      Create a knob at the top of the hockey stick, if desired. The knob prevents the stick from slipping out of your hand, and is optional. Pull a small portion of hockey tape (don't tear the tape) and place it over the very top of the grip. The tape doesn't overlap over the top of the grip. Wrap the tape around the very top of the grip four to five times, overlapping each piece precisely over the previous piece of tape. Cut the tape when you're happy with the size of the knob. Finish it off by covering the very top of the grip (previously not covered with tape) with one piece of hockey tape.

    Hockey stick blade

    • 7

      Place the end of the tape at the bottom portion of the end of the blade, known as the “toe” of the blade. Pull the tape along the entire bottom of the blade so that the blade runs along the center of the piece of tape. Do this until you reach the end of the blade. Tear the tape, and wrap all edges of the tape around both ends of the stick blade.

    • 8

      Put the end of the tape along the heel of the blade (which side of the blade you choose is up to you).

    • 9

      Wrap the tape up the blade all the way to the toe of the blade, overlapping the tape roughly one-fourth of an inch each time you go around the blade with the tape. Make sure the tape lays flat each time you wrap it around the blade, or else your stick won't handle the puck properly.

    • 10

      Finish the tape job at the top of the stick blade. Tear the tape, and lay any excess tape flat on the blade at the toe of the stick.